FYI: Munich's official Oktoberfest began in 1810 as a harvest festival for the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese.

Harvest Brew

By the time the air chills and the leaves turn, Oktoberfest is underway. And while we're sure you're throwing on an M65, there are other ways to celebrate autumn's arrival—like with some of the year's best beers. Munich's official bash may've just ended, but any aficionado will tell you Oktoberfest is a state of mind. Besides, they only serve six local brews there. In the states, small breweries are crafting dozens of world-class beers. Here are three of our favorites.

Sierra Nevada Harvest WetHop AleProduced in limited quantities, hops are picked on the brewery's premises and thrown into the brew kettle wet, lending a fresh and complex flavor.